A1 Trails
Rail Trails in Wisconsin

Wiouwash State Trail

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Trail description: This rail trail will run 75 miles from Birnamwood south to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Some sections of the trail may not yet be completed. The name WIOUWASH is derived from the first two letters of the counties through which it passes: WInnebago, OUtagamie, WAupaca, and SHawano. The north end of the trail crosses the Mountain Bay Trail at Eland. Shawano County Rails to Trails Inc is a volunteer group working improve the Mountain Bay and the WIOUWASH Trails.
Access fee: State Trail Pass is required for bicyclists
Towns along the trail: Oshkosh (pop 50,000), Larsea, Medina, Hortonville, Split Rock, Tigerton, Wittenberg, Eland, Birnamwood, WI
Web site: WI DNR State Trails | Winnebago County Parks | Shawano County Parks
Trail map: Map of Winnebago County section of the trail is available on the Winnebago County website
Trail surface: Crushed limestone where completed
Designated activities: Bicycling, walking, snowmobiling, xc skiing (22 mi)
Facilities on the trail:
Points of interest: Three native tallgrass preserves
Lodging: Oshkosh has several choices of accommodations.
Camping:
Bike shops: Oshkosh
Weather forecast: Oshkosh
Tourism info: Oshkosh Visitors Bureau | Shawano Chamber
Getting to the trail: The southern end of the trail trail is located off Westwind Road in Oshkosh.
Map of local region: Birnamwood | Eland | Wittenberg | Tigerton | Split Rock | Hortonville | Medina | Larsea | Oshkosh

Rate this trail

Number of ratings: 16
Average rating: 3.62

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Weekly
Date of last visit: July, 2005
Sections that I biked: Oshkosh to Hortonville
My favourite sections of the trail: Anywhere from Ryf Road to Hortonville.
Best time to go: Spring thru Fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Could use a couple of more benches, lack of facilities.
What I disliked: Lots of Deer Flies in Outagamie County during hot weather. Only one place to get water between Oshkosh and Hortonville and they close at 5pm.
Comments: This is a very good trail for the beginner. Make sure you have enough water for your trip!
Contrary to this site's description, a trail pass IS NOT required for the WIOUWASH.
Submitted by: JB
from: Oshkosh, WI
Date submitted: July 31, 2005

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Few
Date of last visit: July, 2001
Sections that I biked: Hortonville south to Oshkosh (was used as part of tour route from Duluth Mn to Milwaukee)
My favourite sections of the trail: I really liked the entire trail, the section along the lake on the south end is worth mentioning by itself though.
Best time to go:
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 3.5 stars
What I liked: Scenery was nice and was varied. Services were not to far away. Fair amount of shade on trail.
What I disliked: Trail is short. Some areas need more attention maintenance. Lack of facilities at trailheads.
Comments: (Comments on southern portion only) I would not recommend going too far out of your way to visit trail. However it is a very nice resource for those in the area, and better than your average trail, at least as far as scenery.
Submitted by: Ryan
from: Cleveland O
Date submitted: June 12, 2005

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Few
Date of last visit: June, 2005
Sections that I biked: Actually - I don't bike, but ride my horse. I have only ridden the trail from Hortonville to Oshkosh.
My favourite sections of the trail: All the wooden bridges, and the section by Larsen.
Best time to go: Summer
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: Scenery, bridges, easy access to local horse farms.
What I disliked: Footing. Crushed limestone requires steel shoes on horses.
Comments: Possible hazards would be a couple of drainage ponds to either side of the pond. Walkers and bikers would have no troubles but horses could spook and go over the edge.
Submitted by: VMH
from: Appleton WI
Date submitted: June 6, 2005

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Weekly
Date of last visit: Nov, 2004
Sections that I biked: the whole trail
My favourite sections of the trail: by the butte des morts lake
Best time to go: spring or fall
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: beautiful scenery
What I disliked: its too short
Comments:
Submitted by: Josh Stewart
from: oshkosh
Date submitted: Jan 15, 2005

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Weekly
Date of last visit: August, 2004
Sections that I biked: From oshkosh to some highway north about 12 miles.
My favourite sections of the trail: The large open areas where you can see all the farm land. I especially liked seeing and riding through the farm south of Allenville.
Best time to go: when its dry and semi-warm.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: The trail goes through some wonderful country side. It gives you a good look at rual life.
What I disliked: N/A
Comments: Its a great trail, i suggest you ride it.
Submitted by: David L.
from: Oshkosh Wisconsin
Date submitted: Sept 4, 2004

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Several
Date of last visit: August, 2004
Sections that I biked: between oshkosh and allenville
My favourite sections of the trail: bridges
Best time to go: summer and fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: scenic
What I disliked: marshy area attracts bugs
Comments: eat in oshkosh
sleep in a tent
dont eat bugs
watch out for crazy farmers and the city DA
Submitted by: ajm
from: oshkosh
Date submitted: Aug 17, 2004

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Few
Date of last visit: July, 2004
Sections that I biked: Oshkosh
My favourite sections of the trail: The water sceneries and bridges
Best time to go: summer or fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: well maintained, fun to ride on
What I disliked: mosquitoes
Comments: Fratello's is right on the way, it's a great place to eat
Submitted by: RYK
from: Oshkosh, WI
Date submitted: July 29, 2004

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Few
Date of last visit: June, 2004
Sections that I biked: from Oshkosh onwards
My favourite sections of the trail: by the water. i like the little wooden bridges too
Best time to go: spring and summer
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: scenery and nice cool breeze through the woods
What I disliked: mosquitos
Comments:
Submitted by: Turi
from: Oshkosh
Date submitted: June 21, 2004

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Several
Date of last visit: June, 2004
Sections that I biked: oshkosh-Hortinville
My favourite sections of the trail: near Hortinville
Best time to go: summer or fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: It looked very nice.
What I disliked: the cows
Comments: Larson
Submitted by: Jordan Jacobson
from: Wisconsin
Date submitted: June 3, 2004

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Several
Date of last visit: June, 2004
Sections that I biked: Oshkosh-Hortinville
My favourite sections of the trail: near Hortinville
Best time to go: summer or fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4 stars
What I liked: It looked very nice.
What I disliked: the cows
Comments: Larson
Submitted by: Jordan Jacobson
from: Wisconsin
Date submitted: June 3, 2004

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: August, 2003
Sections that I biked: Hortonville to just south of Larsen. We plan to bike the southern portion today (Labor Day).
My favourite sections of the trail: The northern section nearest Hortonville. The trail is better maintained in Outagamie County than further south.
Best time to go: As the trail is limestone/crushed rock, drier times are better.
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 2.5 stars
What I liked: I moved here from MN where more of the trails are asphalt. It's a bit of a let down to go back to limestone. However, the shade along nearly the entire length of the trail is very nice to keep the sun of your back and the wind off your face.
What I disliked: The crushed limestone was a bit loose in some areas, enough so that we just about went down on our tandem once. In other areas it's more like a dirt road with grass and weeds down the middle.
Comments:
Submitted by: JDP
from: Appleton, WI
Date submitted: Sept 1, 2003

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Several
Date of last visit: August, 2003
Sections that I biked: Oshkosh to Hortonville
My favourite sections of the trail: the bridges, the parts along the water near Oshkosh
Best time to go: Whenever it is dry and warm enough to bike
Trail marking: Fair
Trail maintenance: Fair
Rating: 2 stars
What I liked: fairly nice scenery, lots of shade
What I disliked: the short detour on roadway in oshkosh is not well marked, lots of horse droppings on the trail. Some sections have no crushed rock, only dirt and can be slippery.
Comments: Fratellos in Oshkosh is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner after a ride.
Submitted by: KT
from: Oshkosh
Date submitted: Aug 17, 2003

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: July, 2003
Sections that I biked: Birnamwood to the south
My favourite sections of the trail: The trail from birnamwood to about 15 miles south was very nice. I would rate that part a ten. However after the first 15 miles it falls apart to a zero. That part of the trail is not even close to being usable. Very disappointing.
Best time to go:
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 3 stars
What I liked: The surface was very smooth. scenery was nice. i saw several deer and wild turkey. Secluded and quiet
What I disliked: It stopped after 15 miles. That section should not be advertised as open if it is in that condition.
Comments:
Submitted by: K. MAC
from: Green Bay
Date submitted: July 25, 2003

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: June, 2003
Sections that I biked: Eland to Norrie Lake
My favourite sections of the trail: Eland to Birnamwood
Best time to go: September
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: scenery, seclusion, spotting deer
What I disliked: mosquitos
Comments:
Submitted by: Mike Pfau
from: Phoenix, AZ
Date submitted: June 10, 2003

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: May, 2001
Sections that I biked: oshkosh to hortonville
My favourite sections of the trail: hortonville by the dam and allenville
Best time to go: spring and fall
Trail marking: Very good
Trail maintenance: Very good
Rating: 4.5 stars
What I liked: good parking areas lots of freindly people and the scenery
What I disliked: every thing was fine
Comments: the towns were great. many places to eat.you can watch people fishing at lake butte a morts while you take a break.
Submitted by: dave karshen
from: greenfield wisconsin
Date submitted: March 12, 2003

Trail name: Wiouwash State Trail
Times biking the trail: Once
Date of last visit: July, 2002
Sections that I biked: Tigerton

Date submitted: July 23, 2002

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